Happy Are We Darkies So Gay
(Alternately: Happy Are We Niggars So Gay, Happy Are We Us Niggers So Gay)

For information on this song as part of the blackface minstrel tradition, please see
its page in The Juba Project's Minstrelsy Database.

Credits

Art Babayants, piano; Alison Jutzi, vocals; Dennis Patrick, sound technician.

Lyrics

Pre-Chorus
1st Voice: Music delicious!
2nd Voice: O, den how sweet!
1st Voice: Your kind applauses.
2nd Voice: We hope to greet

Verse 1
The songs that we sing, some of dem are fine,
De chorus is good, when we do combine.
We are always den so happy and gay,
We laugh and we sing ha, ha, ha, while we play.

Pre-Chorus
1st Voice: Singing delicious!
2nd Voice: O, den, how fine!
1st Voice: We darkey minstrels
2nd Voice: At night we do shine!

Verse 2
Ma’m’selle Augusta_ she is so fine
In dancing and playing de pantomime!
We darkey minstrels, wid blacken face,
Comes de Cachuca and Polka wid grace.

Pre-Chorus
1st Voice: Dancing delicious!
2nd Voice: O, den how gay!
1st Voice: We’ll dance and we’ll sing _
2nd Voice: ’Till broke ob day.

Chorus
Happy are we darkies so gay!
Come let us sing and laugh while we play
We darky minstrels’ favorite lay,
With a ha, ha, ha, ha, and laugh while we play.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, and laugh while we play.

Publication Information

Published by Jaques & Brothers, 385 Broadway, New York.

British Library Shelf Number: H.1652.ss(37)

Published: 1847